Leeds Rhinos claimed their first victory in Perpignan since the 2022 Play-Offs, defeating Catalans Dragons 28-6. The win at Stade Gilbert Brutus was highlighted by a hat-trick from Brodie Croft, marking his second of the season. Harry Newman and Lachie Miller also contributed with first-half tries, establishing an early lead for the Rhinos.
The match saw Leeds Rhinos quickly take control after an initial bright start from the Dragons. Harry Newman opened the scoring in the eighth minute, with Jake Connor’s conversion putting the visitors ahead. The Rhinos’ dominance continued throughout the game, with the home side not scoring until late in the match.
Rhinos maintain strong league position
The victory extended the Rhinos’ lead at the top of the table, placing them four points clear of Wigan Warriors. This season, Leeds has secured 15 wins from 18 games. The fixture also marked a significant milestone for captain Kallum Watkins, who played his 300th game for the club.
Other players reaching career milestones in the Rhinos camp included Danny Levi, who played his 200th game, and Jake Connor, who reached 300 games. Tom Holroyd also celebrated his 100th game for the club.
Despite an unconvincing start that saw Cooper Jenkins leave the field with an eye injury, Leeds quickly found their rhythm. Harry Newman’s try came after a strong offload from Danny Levi, setting up a series of attacking plays near the Catalans try line. The Rhinos capitalized on a high kick from Connor, which bounced into Newman’s hands for the score.
Key moments and player performances
A series of errors from the Dragons allowed Brodie Croft to score his first try. After a promising break by Leo Darrelatour was not converted into points, Lewis Dodd’s offload under pressure was seized upon by Croft, who outran Zac Lipowicz to extend the lead. Lachie Miller then added another try before halftime, following a break from Jarrod O’Connor and an offload from Cameron Smith, sending Leeds into the break with a 16-0 advantage.
The second half saw increased physicality, with both teams clashing early on. Despite a scrappy period, Croft continued his scoring run, securing his second try of the match around the hour mark. He then completed his hat-trick later in the half, capitalizing on a mistake from Laguerre and a setup from O’Connor, bringing the score to 28-0 with ten minutes remaining.
The Dragons managed a consolation try in the final minute through Ugo Tison. However, it was a memorable night for Leeds, marking their seventh consecutive win. The team’s performance demonstrated their resolve.
Maika Sivo, who had been on a scoring streak, was unable to add to his tally in this match, despite efforts from his teammates to create opportunities. The focus for Leeds remained on a strong team performance, which ultimately secured the significant away win.
The Super League season continues with several key dates approaching. The Rivals Round is scheduled for July, followed by the Elimination Play-offs on September. The Play-off semi-finals will take place on September, culminating in the Grand Final on October 3.
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Source: skysports.com
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Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”